Cricket-Sri Lanka left with regrets after squandering strong start: Nissanka

FILE PHOTO-Cricket - Asia Cup - Final - Pakistan v Sri Lanka - Dubai International Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - September 11, 2022 Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka in action REUTERS/Christopher Pike/File Photo

(Reuters) - Sri Lanka should have been closer to the 300-runs mark after making a strong start to Monday's Cricket World Cup match but they lost their way in the middle overs when Australia's bowlers found their range, batter Pathum Nissanka said.

Openers Nissanka (61) and Kusal Perera (78) combined well in a 125-run opening stand that put Sri Lanka in the driving seat in Lucknow, but a batting order collapse then saw them lose all 10 wickets for just 84 runs to post a below-par 209 total.